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Page 83
She wondered whether she should make some reference to Joanna. That she had found one seat of trouble did not mean that another did not exist. Better not. Better let the children meet in hall before dinner under her eye and see what there was to see. Alinor rose easily to her feet, and Geoffrey jumped up and started out. Alinor had to call him back to take his cloak, noting that he would need more gentling. He had stiffened apprehensively when she called out peremptorily. Nonetheless, she had made a beginning. The order to take his cloak had won a shy smile. Now, another trial, a harder one. Alinor straightened the pallet automatically, glanced around the chamber. It might not be so easy to deal with Joanna.
She found her daughter with Father Francis reading a simple saint's tale with little enthusiasm. Ian might be right about Joanna's desire to be good, Alinor thought, but if so, that desire certainly did not take the form of ardent religionwhich was just as well. She called her daughter away and started up toward the women's quarters, ignoring Joanna's heavy sighs. Joanna was even less enthusiastic about sewing, weaving, and spinning than about saints' tales. There is more of me in her than that red hair and blue eyes show, Alinor reminded herself.
But Alinor had no intention of setting her daughter to some distasteful task that would leave her mind free to brood on this day. For the next week or two, Joanna would be occupied only with those aspects of the coming wedding that would excite and interest her. The whole affair, Alinor hoped, would take on an aura of pleasure while Joanna grew accustomed to the idea. Before Alinor could start her campaign with an order to turn out the chests of fine brocades and velvets to choose suitable cloth for the dresses to be worn, Joanna spoke.
"Why is it so important to be chaste, Mother?"

 
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